Fall Fun!

Fall is here again.  Time is still flying.  We have been so busy this summer having fun that we haven't blogged about it.  So far this year has brought Homecoming, carmeled apples and nice big pumpkins from the garden. Heres's a few pictures of Gabrilea going to Homecoming and Kevin and I whipping up some fall treats.

Sweet Sixteen!!!!!

It seems like just last week that Rick and I brought Gabriela home from Cottonwood Hospital to our townhome in Sugarhouse.  It's hard to believe that 16 years have gone by since then.  Gabriela Mae Wardle was born March 27th, 1996.  She came into the world 10 days before her due date of April 6th.  She has been such a great helper ever since she was little.  She has helped lots with her 4 brothers who came after her.  Now that she is a licensed driver, she helps even more!  Here's a look back at some of her past birthdays and her most recent celebration of turning 16!!!

My big one year old!!

Gabriela always preferred brownies over cake

She was baptized on her birthday in 2004 with friend Lexi Larisch

Homemade brownies again when she turned 15

The 16th Birthday Bash!  She celebrated with friend Jacqueline

Yummy cake!!

Friends danced and played games

Gab, Lexi, and Kaitlyn best buddies

Happy 16th Gabriela!!!!!

Trying To Be "Good"

Lets face it. It's hard to be "good" ALL the time, but Rick and I have given it a good shot since the beginning of the year. Here are a few things we have done to make some healthy changes in our lives. First off is cooking and eating healthier foods. I have tried a few different foods that I haven't ever had before, and have liked some more than others. But at least I've tried them, and that is big for me. Here's a couple of our healthy dinners we have had lately.

This is rotisserie chicken, mixed quinoa/brown rice, steamed squash, carrots, tomato slices, and milk.

Here's another one; quinoa, stir-fry veggies, with a side of marinated chicken. Sometimes I over do the chicken, so I decided to try ground turkey. The other night we cooked ground turkey enchiladas on wheat tortillas. It turned out really good!

No grease, amazing!

Lots of fiber! And yummy too!

Just one filled me up!

Next comes exercise. Rick and I have made jogging a part of our evening routine. We love taking Daisy with us. She loves it too! We've noticed that we can run easier than we could when we first started. We don't get out of breath as fast, and can run for longer distances before stopping. The winter weather has been mild this year, so we were able to keep running outdoors straight through the winter months. It only gets better from here. We are excited to go hiking and take the kids and Daisy with us this summer. I'm still Jazzercising it almost everyday, and Rick walks at work on his lunch breaks. We took our bikes down to the Jordan River Parkway Trail this weekend and had fun taking in nature down there.

We have also been trying to get to bed at a decent hour. For us thats around 10 p.m. Getting enough sleep helps us have energy to do our busy lives!!

I've joined a new health challenge that started last week and lasts for the next 3 months. It's kind of a crazy goal that I've set for myself. I really feel I need to rid myself of sweet cravings, so I've decided to not eat sweets 6 days a week, and allow myself one sweet treat one day a week only. I hope it works! Wish me luck! I love new challenges. I get bored with the same old routine everyday. I'm excited to see if I can really do it! Today is day 8 and I have been faithful, and lost 1.4 pounds last week when I weighed in at Weight Watchers. I still love the Weight Watchers program. It totally keeps me in check!

We haven't been perfect. We have lots of room to improve, but we are trying (and succeeding) and for that I am happy.

I hope you are all doing good and living healthy too!

Our Darling Daisy!

Daisy came to her new home on Januray 15th 2012. She is a 2 year old purebred beagle. We found her at a dog rescue organization in Layton, Utah. Her owner did not want her anymore, and actually wanted to have her euthanized for no reason, other than he didn't want her anymore. We are so glad that we found her. She is very good mannered, and just loves to follow us around. We fostered her for a week to make sure she would be a good fit for our family, and then adopted her the following week.

Daisy is a great running partner too! She loves to go on walks and runs in our neighborhood with us. She keeps me company during the day when all the kids are gone at school. We are so happy to have her in our home!

In Memory of Sunshine

Gabriela and Sunshine(8 weeks old) February 2006

Sunshine right before he got sick. December 2011. We love you Sunshine!!!!!

Braden and his dog on his first dayat the Wardle home

As you may or may not have heard, our sweet little dog Sunshine has passed away. He left this life on New Years Day2012. He had been sick for just 5 days. I took him to the vet on the second day after he had been vomitting and began to urinate blood. The vet prescribed some antibiotics for a possible urinary tract infection and pills to help with the nausea and vomitting. Sunshine became weaker each day and had difficulty walking and standing up due to his blood levels dropping so low. He slept all day for the the past few days of his life and I'm hoping he didn't suffer much. He peacefully passed from this life at 11 pm New Years Day while in his basket with me stroking him. We will miss him and will remember all of the good times we had together in the short 6 years he was with us. We hope to see you again in Heaven Sunshine!!!!!!! You were a great dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!